PROVIDENCE – Mike Doyle, one of the founders and current chairman of RDW Group Inc., the communications agency, has retired. Doyle is being succeeded, effective Monday, as chairman by the firm’s chief operating officer, James Malachowski. Jim Pontarelli remains president of the firm, which claims 75 employees with offices in Providence, Boston and Worcester, and a local and national client base.

Doyle leaves the company at a time when it is performing well, having placed seventh on the list of Fastest-Growing Private Companies with revenue of $25 million or above in the PBN 2013 Book of Lists, published Monday, with growth of 53 percent from 2009 to 2011 and revenue of $30.5 million.

“It was a great ride,” Doyle said in prepared remarks, “and it will be difficult to step away from a life that has been a beloved passion of mine for so long.”

Agency clients over the years have included Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, Providence Place and T.F. Green Airport, with the firm specializing in the energy, health care and higher education markets.

RDW was founded in 1986 with five employees in an East Side apartment building and is now one of the largest independently owned advertising and public relations agencies in New England.

“[Mike] has served as a trusted adviser to clients and a mentor to his employees,” said RDW co-founding partner Phil Rivers, who is also retired. “His financial acumen and understanding of communications trends and adaptability helped the agency weather several recessions and thrive during the economic upticks.”

Pontarelli added in prepared remarks that “we appreciate and honor Mike’s leadership of the agency [and his] formidable talent will surely be missed.”

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